pinning flag to pole: do I need an Empty?
AOQ:  yes, I can pin the flag in midair.  For some reason on my first attempt, I didn't create the vertex group I thought I had created.  On the 2nd attempt -- I would swear I went through the same steps each time, but there it is -- the vertex group was correctly created and works as a pin, and everything is dandy.

If the flagpole moved, and I wanted the flag to follow it, would the best practise then be to use an Empty between the moving pole and the flapping cloth?